Dr. Elena Onyshchenko

Elena studied polymer science and engineering at the London Metropolitan University, gaining a master’s degree with distinction in 2003 and a PhD “Characterization of Network Structure in Recycled Rubber” in 2017. Her PhD work resulted in developing a practical and reliable characterization technique to evaluate the effectiveness of the de-vulcanization process of waste rubber in order to assist the research and development stages of new recycling technology.

Elena is a Polymer Scientist and Engineer with a great passion for polymer recycling and sustainability. She has 20 years of relevant academic and industrial experience in the field of polymers gained through teaching, research and consultancy. Elena has extensive knowledge and practical skills in all aspects of polymer processing, testing and characterization. She also has substantial experience in obtaining funding and leading collaborative research projects in the recycling sector. Prior to joining Worn Again Technologies, Elena successfully designed and delivered several polymer recycling projects in the UK and abroad, including “Developing new end-use applications for recycled coloured PET”, funded by WRAP. Her experience includes PET melt processing/extrusion, process scale-up from laboratory to industrial trials and project management. As Polymer Scientist for Worn Again Technologies she has been working in a team of scientists and engineers on recovery and melt processing of PET from mixed textile and PET bottle waste.

Elena has developed strong links with industry, academia and professional bodies to address the skill shortage in the plastic industry. She contributed to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching materials at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including new specialised apprenticeship programmes and bespoke CPD courses for the polymer industry and she is actively involved in the accreditation and validation of new specialised science and manufacturing programmes to ensure that industry needs are met.